In late March, the Senate passed the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) and the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), legislation making websites liable for “facilitating sex trafficking.”

At surface level, SESTA and FOSTA appear well-intentioned in their goals to reduce online sex trafficking. But they also carry serious implications for sex workers: shortly after SESTA passed, Craigslist’s personals section shut down, and other popularly-used sites are following suit. For adults working in the sex trade, shutting down these websites drives them out of the spaces keeping them safe and into street-based sex work, putting them at greater risk of violence.

This is of particular concern for transgender adults – particularly those of color – who experience high rates of unemployment and homelessness and are often left with few alternatives outside of the sex trade. Nona Conner, CASS’ Program Manager, describes how SESTA and FOSTA have already affected trans women of color:

When [Craigslist] shut down it impacted trans women of color drastically!!!! Let me be clear: Trans women of color want the opportunity to work…but to bounce back after repeatedly being denied a job, no matter how simple, is unfair and leaves the trans community feeling hopeless and leaves the only option of becoming a sex worker. It’s never choice number one.

A host of girls I know are now facing extreme homelessness… sleeping on the street, being rejected from shelters. It leaves the girls hungry and unable to even travel on the Metro…

It’s a major struggle.

While SESTA and FOSTA may derive from good intentions, they miss one crucial point: while sex trafficking is coerced, sex work is consensual, and shutting down safe spaces for sex workers will not cure sex trafficking. This misconception has already put sex workers’ lives and safety in jeopardy, and will continue to do so until minds are changed.

Want to help us clear up these common misunderstandings? Join CASS, Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100), HIPS, No Justice No Pride, and DC Democratic Socialists of America (DC DSA) for “Canvass Ward 6: Bust Sex Work Myths” this Sunday, April 8th.

The event will begin at noon with a lunch for sex workers who have been directly impacted, providing food and toiletries. Then we’ll canvass neighborhoods and talk to community members about why we need to decriminalize the survival of people in the sex trade in order to make our communities safer.

Can’t make it Sunday? Add your voice to the conversation on social media using the hashtag #DecrimNow.